GDF crowned champions of GFF U17 Youth Ensemble Elite League Club competition

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC have been crowned champions of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) U17 Youth Ensemble Elite League Club Competition following the conclusion of the tournament on October 17 at the Western Tigers Ground.

The competition, which kicked off on September 19, featured five clubs; Police FC, Santos FC, GDF FC, Western Tigers FC and Fruta Conquerors FC, in a month-long contest showcasing the talent and competitive spirit of Guyana’s emerging footballers.
A total of 42 goals were scored throughout the competition, highlighting the attacking quality and determination of the participating teams. Santos FC secured the runner-up position after defeating Fruta Conquerors FC 1-0 in their third-place playoff encounter, with Jahim Hart scoring the decisive goal in the 57th minute.
Western Tigers FC claimed third place with a convincing 3-0 victory over Police FC. Darius Chester opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, followed by Omar Moses in the 43rd minute, before an own goal by Police FC’s Joshua Austin in the 50th minute completed the result.
GDF FC also enjoyed individual success, with Shawn Brown earning the Most Valuable Player award for his outstanding performances throughout the competition. Teammate Adriel Hamilton was recognised as Best Goalkeeper, while Brandon Parks received the Most Goals Scored award after finishing with five goals.
Parks shared the distinction with Fruta Conquerors FC’s Jadan Christian, who also netted five times during the tournament. Commenting on the conclusion of the U17 Elite League segment, GFF President Wayne Forde highlighted the scale of the Youth Ensemble initiative and its continued impact on youth development across Guyana.
“The conclusion of the U17 Elite League segment marks a monumental milestone for GFF Elite League Clubs, but our mission continues as several of our Regional Associations are still actively playing matches in the Regional phase. In total, a remarkable 1,021 young men are participating across the country, a testament to the massive scale and reach of this groundbreaking initiative.
I want to explicitly recognize and commend the Elite League clubs for their immense effort to build youth programmes within their club structure and for participating in this critically important tournament.
This collective success is due to the tireless dedication of everyone involved. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the players for their disciplined and competitive spirit, the coaches for guiding our youth, the administrators for their seamless organization of the tournament, and the match officials for ensuring the quality and integrity of the game.
By establishing this structured platform, we are delivering vital match time for our boys to hone their skills, an invaluable arena for coaches to gain experience, and a centralized window for scouts to identify future national team prospects.
As a football family, we carry a profound duty to create opportunities for these young men. By providing positive football engagements consistently, we are keeping them safely away from socially deviant behaviors. Congratulations to our Elite League segment champions, GDF FC, as we look forward to the conclusion of the remaining regional tournaments!”
The conclusion of the GFF U17 Youth Ensemble Elite League Club Competition marks another important step in the Federation’s ongoing commitment to youth football development and talent identification.